Paralyzed Wrestler, Schools Settle

March 13, 2009

A former West Seattle High School wrestler who was paralyzed at a practice two years ago was awarded $15 million in a settlement reached Wednesday with Seattle Public Schools.

Mac Clay, then a senior, was at wrestling practice in the school cafeteria when he was driven backward into two wrestlers going in the opposite direction. The accident left him with limited use of his arms and no movement in his fingers and triceps, his attorney said.

At the time, 13 wrestling team members were practicing using one mat on the concrete floor, although there were extra mats nearby, his attorneys said.

The settlement was reached on the deadline day set by attorneys. The payment is covered by the school district's insurance carrier, but had it been more than $15 million, the difference would have come directly from the district, Clay's attorney said.

"Settlement at this amount also prevented the district from having to use district funds for the settlement," he said.

Clay was a three-sport athlete. He played golf for three years and was an outfielder on the 2006 Wildcats team that won the Metro championship. During the 2005-06 wrestling season, Clay competed in the 140- and 145-pound weight classes.

The school's valedictorian, he also was a cellist in the Seattle Youth Symphony.

"This was a very tragic wrestling accident," Seattle Public Schools spokesman David Tucker said Wednesday. "This case has been a matter of intense litigation. We are currently engaged in ongoing negotiations."